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Chance scowls at Z.
“Let’s go walk it off, buddy,” Lilly says, leaning up to kiss Chance’s cheek.
Shelby watches them leave the dining room and shakes her head. “I didn’t even get to the moshing songs.” She tucks her guitar in its case. “Little hellraisers ya’ll got there.” She catches sight of Grace snuggled in Hope’s arms. “Except you. You’re a lil’ angel.”
“Not always,” Hope laughs.
“I’m a unicorn,” Alexa insists, running over to Shelby.
“Yes, you are.” Shelby squats down to Alexa’s level and talks to her in a lower voice that doesn’t make it over here.
Serena’s eyes sparkle and there’s a glow on her cheeks that was missing earlier. I pull her closer. “Feeling better about telling everyone?”
“Yes, actually.” She watches Shelby and Alexa for a second. “I want our baby to grow up surrounded by family and other kids to play with.”
“Even Ravage?”
She shifts her gaze toward him. “Well…”
“Hey!” Rav swaggers over to us. “I just enjoy yanking Z’s chain. He’s so easy to rile these days.”
“There are worse things in the world than taking fatherhood seriously, you know,” Dex says.
Rav shrugs. “Maybe I’m still pissed with him for moving downstate.”
“Is hell freezing over?” Murphy shouts. “Did Rav just correctly identify a feeling?”
“Shut up, ginger. No one was talking to you.”
“Romper room’s been a blast,” Hustler announces, “but are we all going down to CB and the new clubhouse tonight or not?”
“I’m headed down there to work,” Dex says.
“Grinder, you still haven’t seen the new clubhouse or been to CB,” Rav points out. “What’s up, bro?”
“Did you miss his earlier news?” Stash coughs in his fist. “Obviously, he’s been getting busy.”
Serena titters with laughter and presses her face against my chest. “Yes, you have,” she says between giggles.
“G was locked up for fifteen years and still has better game than you two clowns, who gotta pay girls to talk to you,” Jigsaw says to Rav.
“I ain’t payin’ them shit,” Stash mutters.
“You better be tipping our girls if you’re in the club wasting their time,” Dex growls.
Rock walks up next to me. “As I was saying earlier…”
“Yeah, it’s like raising a bunch of kids who never grow up.”
“Grace should be a piece of cake after these guys,” Serena says.
Rock chuckles. “Amen to that.”
Hope, holding Grace, walks around the others to join us. Grace reaches for Rock when she’s within grabbing distance and he pulls her into his arms. “I think you’ve had enough exposure to these degenerates for the night.”
Grace bobs her head up and down.
“Hah.” I laugh. “Smart cookie already.”
“You heading home or taking Grace to the living room for movie night?” Z asks, rejoining our group.
“I’m not sure she’ll be awake much longer,” Hope says. “But we’ll start the movie with you guys.”
Grace waves at Serena over her dad’s shoulder as he carries her out of the dining room.
“Ohhhh, she’s so sweet.” Serena sighs and melts against my side. “Now I hope we’re having a girl.”
“Hey.” I nudge her shoulder. “When can we find out what we’re having?”
“Ahh, there’s a blood test to check for chromosomal conditions that can be used to tell if you’re having a boy. I think I can do that in another couple of weeks. Otherwise, it’s a longer wait until you can tell on an ultrasound.”
“Do you want to know ahead of time?”
A little crease forms between her eyebrows. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Just wondering.” I hug her to my side again. “We haven’t talked about stuff like that, is all.”
Her body relaxes against mine. “Oh, sure. Do you want to know?”
“Absolutely.”
She blows out a breath. “Okay. Good.”
Trinity joins us and drapes her arm over Serena’s shoulders. “Is this whole scene making you rethink kids?” She paints her hand in the air in front of us.
Serena slaps her hand over her mouth and laughs. “No, but it’s making me rethink letting Rav or Stash ever hang around my kids.”
“Got that right,” Z mutters next to me.
I elbow him in the side. “I think Rav just misses you.”
Z smirks. “Whatever.”
“No thank yooo,” Shelby sings loud enough to draw our attention to her conversation with the guys. “Can’t stand anyone yanking on my hair.”
Serena winces. “I hate that too. I have a fear of going bald.”
Trinity fluffs her hand through Serena’s hair. “I don’t think you have to worry about that anytime soon. You have beautiful hair.” She winks at Serena. “Besides, it all depends on who’s doing the pulling and how.”
Serena casts a quick glance my way. “That’s true.”
“Ding-dong! We found the vanilla couple!” Rav points at Shelby then Rooster like a demented carnival barker.
“Fuck off, clown,” Rooster sneers.
“Since when is vanilla a bad thing?” Dex steps forward, drawing everyone’s attention, and holds out one hand. “It’s a common flavor for a reason. Stands on its own, compliments other flavors, or it can be a building block to create new flavors.”
